Summary
Since capillary density of skeletal muscle depends on fiber type distribution, fiber typing should accompany measurement of capillary density. To obviate the need for multiple sectioning, we suggest NADH tetrazolium reductase enzyme histochemistry for fiber typing followed (on the same slide) by lectin histochemistry to demonstrate the binding of Ulex europaeus agglutinin, a sensitive marker for endothelium. The method is quick, highly reproducible and gives density estimates comparable to earlier, more tedious methods.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carpenter S, Karpati G (1984) Pathology of skeletal muscle. Churchill Livingstone, New York, pp 354–372
Carry MR, Ringel SP, Starcevich JL (1986) Distribution of capillaries in normal and diseased human skeletal muscle. Muscle Nerve 9:445–454
Dubowitz V (1985) Muscle biopsy. A practical approach. 2nd edn. Balliere Tindall, London, pp 19–40
Gundersen HJG (1977) Notes on the estimation of numerical density of arbitrary profiles: the edge effect. J Microsc 111:219–223
Henriksson KG (1979) “Semi-open” muscle biopsy technique. A simple outpatient procedure. Acta Neurol Scand 59:317–323
Holthöfer H, Virtanen I, Kariniemi A-L, Hormia M, Linder E, Miettinen M (1982) Ulex europaeus I lectin as a marker for vascular endothelium in human tissues. Lab Invest 47:60–66
Ingjer F (1979) The effect of endurance training on muscle fiber ATP-ase activity, capillary supply and mitochondrial content in man. J Physiol (Lond) 294:419–432
Jerusalem F (1982) Circulatory disorders and pathology of intramuscular blood vessels. In: Mastaglia F, Walton Sir J (eds) Skeletal muscle pathology. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 537–560
Lillioja S, Young AA, Culter CL, Ivy JL, Abbott WGH, Zawadski JK, Yki-Järvinen H, Christin L, Secomb TW, Bogardus C (1987) Skeletal muscle capillary density and fiber type are possible determinants of in vivo insulin resistance in man. J Clin Invest 80:415–424
Mabuchi K, Sreter FA (1980) Actomyosin ATPase. II. Fiber typing by histochemical ATPase reaction. Muscle Nerve 3:233–239
Sjögaard G (1982) Capillary supply and cross-sectional area of slow and fast twitch muscle fibers in man. Histochemistry 76:547–555
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paljärvi, L., Naukkarinen, A. Histochemical method for simultaneous fiber typing and demonstration of capillaries in skeletal muscle. Histochemistry 93, 385–387 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315855
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315855